Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-10-22
crushed to powder ON Me rocks 800 feet b


crushed to powder ON the rocks 800 feet BE-
low
The succor which had been summoned by
the girl who had passed down the stair before
the as>sssins passed up was at hand, and the
loud shou.s which reached US from the outer
gates told US that the town was also aroused.
and the men awakened by the women were
calling to be admitted. Some of Nyleptha's
brave ladies', who, in their night shifts and
with their long hair streaming down
their backs, Just as they had been
aroused from rest, had worked so gal.
lantly at blocking the passage through the
wall, went off TO admit them at the side
entrance, while others, assisted by the rescu.
ing party outside, pushed and pulled down
the marble blocks they had placed there with
50 much labor
Soon the wall was down again, and through
the doorway, followed by crowd of res
cuers, staggered old Umslopogaas, an awful.
and. in q way. glorious figure. The man
was mass of wounds and glance at his
wild eye told me that he was dying. The
"keshla' gum ring upon his head was severed
in two places by sword cuts, one Just over the
curious hole in his skull, and the blood poured
down his face from the gaslies Also, on the
right side of his neck was a stab from
speay, inflicted by Agon; there was deep
cut on his left arm just below where the mail
shirt sleeve stopped, and on the right side OF
his body the armor was severed by cash six
inches long, where Nasta's mighty sword had
bitten through it and deep into its wearer's
yitals.
On, AK in hand, he staggered, that dreadful
looking, splendid savage, and the ladies for.
got to turn faint at the scene of blood, and
cheered him, as well they might, but he never
stayed or needed. With outstretched arms
and lettering gait he pursued his way. fol-
lowed by us all along the broad shell strewn
walk that ran through the court yard, past
the spot where the blocks Of marble lay,
through the round arched doorway and the
thick curtains that hung within it, down the
short passage and into the great hall, which
was now filing with hastily armed men, who
poured through the side entrance. Straight
up the hall he went, leaving behind him
track of blood on the marble pavement, till
at last he reached the sacred stone, which
stood in the center of it, and here his strength
seemed to fail him, for he stopped and leaned
upon his ak. Then suddenly he lifted up his
voice and cried aloud:
II die, 1 debut it was a kingly fray
Where are they who came up the great START
] see them not Art thou there, Macuma-
zahn, or art thou gone before to wait for me
in the dark whittier goa The blood blinds
me--the place turns round-I hear the voice
of waters"
Next, as though new thought had STRUCK
him, he lifted the red ak and kissed the bladA
Farewell Inkosi-kaasn he cried. may,
nay. we will go together, we cannot part.
thou and /. We have lived too long one with
another, thou and l. One more stroke. only
one A good stroke a straight strokei u
strong strolel" and, drawing himself to his
full height, with wild heart shaking shout,
he with both hands began to whirl the AK
around his head till it looked like a circle of
flaming steel Then suddenly with awful
force he brought it down straight on to the
crown of the mass of sacred stone. A shower
of sparks flew up, and such was the almost
superhuman strength of the blow that the
massive marble split with a rending sound
into score of pieces, while of InSosi-kaas
there remained but some fragments of steel
and fibrous rope OF shattered horn that had
been the handle. Down with a crash on TO
the pavement fell the fragments of the holy
stone, and down with a crash on to them, still
grasping the knob of Inkosi-kaas, fell the
brave old Zulu-dead. And thus the hero
died
A gasp of wonder and establishment rose
from all those who witnessed the extraordi-
nary sight, and then somebody cried, 'The
propheeyl the prophecy He has shattered
the sacred stone" and at once murmuring
arose.